Apple has unveiled the A20 Pro chip, its first 2-nanometer single-chip system. The processor is used in the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Duo.
The SoC features a 6-core CPU with two Super Core high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores. Super Core cores are 20% faster than the previous generation, while the efficiency cores now include integrated neural accelerators.
The 7-core GPU provides a 40% performance boost in specific tasks and doubles the speed of FP8 calculations used for AI. AI capabilities are handled by a subsystem of two 32-core neural processors.
The memory bandwidth has increased by 50%, and Apple describes the interface as the widest in iPhone history. A redesigned cooling system features a vapor chamber three times larger than in the iPhone 17 Pro, with more graphite and copper.
This cooling architecture allows for a 40% increase in sustained performance compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and up to double the performance of the iPhone 16 Pro under prolonged loads.
Apple also introduced the C2 cellular modem, replacing Qualcomm solutions in flagship models. The C2 modem offers higher upload speeds and 15% lower power consumption. The N1 chip handles Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while US models support 5G mmWave.